Contextual variability in young children's gender ingroup stereotype

Self-categorization theorists (Oakes, Haslam & Turner, 1994) have shown tha t stereo-types are not rigid and fixed, and that they vary to reflect varia tions in the comparative context within which they are formed. In this pape r we investigate stereotype variability in a sample of 6/7-year-old childre n. Participants describe a specific outgroup, and then describe the ingroup (that is 'boys' or 'girls: depending on the sex of the participant). There are two conditions: in condition one the outgroup is represented by adult 'men: if participants are boys, or by adult 'women': if participants are gi rls. In condition two the outgroup is represented by 'girls: if participant s ave boys, or by 'boys' if participants are girls. Results show that stere otypical traits attributed to the ingroup change significantly with changes in the frame of reference.